Walter McCarty Leaving Celtics, Accepts Evansville Head Coach Job

UPDATE (11:15 a.m. ET): It’s official: Walter McCarty has accepted the Evansville’s next men’s basketball head coach job, according to The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach.

ORIGINAL STORY: Tommy Heinsohn may not be pleased with the latest college coaching rumor.

The University of Evansville is expected to hire Boston Celtics assistant coach Walter McCarty as its next men’s basketball head coach, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reported Thursday, citing sources. McCarty would assume his new role after the Celtics’ 2017-18 season.

McCarty, a fan favorite as a player during his eight seasons in Boston, has been on the Celtics’ coaching staff since Aug. 2013, when head coach Brad Stevens hired him as an assistant. The 44-year-old is an Evansville, Ind., native, though, and this move would allow him to return home for his first head coaching gig.

Evansville fired its head coach, Marty Simmons, last week after the Purple Aces finished with a 17-15 record, going a disappointing 7-11 in Missouri Valley Conference play. McCarty reportedly was one of five finalists to replace Simmons.